investigation of new tool to unload liquids from gas wells vortexflowllc.com cal whibbs premier...

Investigation of New Tool to Unload Liquids Investigation of New Tool to Unload Liquids from Gas Wellsfrom Gas Wells

VortexFlowllc.comVortexFlowllc.comCal WhibbsCal Whibbs

Premier Production Premier Production

DEMAND FOR NATURAL DEMAND FOR NATURAL GASGAS

Rise in demand due to , Rise in demand due to ,

Low cost per unit of energyLow cost per unit of energy Cleaner burning propertiesCleaner burning properties

Increased useage,Increased useage,

Residential heatingResidential heating Automobile usageAutomobile usage Power generation plantsPower generation plants

GAS PRODUCTIONGAS PRODUCTION

Production accompanied by, Production accompanied by,

Water / brineWater / brine CondensateCondensate

Resulting in,Resulting in,

Back-pressure on Back-pressure on formationformation

Reducing gas deliverabilityReducing gas deliverability

LIQUID UNLOADINGLIQUID UNLOADING

Conventional unloading methodsConventional unloading methods

Soap sticksSoap sticks PlungersPlungers Rod pumpsRod pumps SwabbingSwabbing

These methods require additional These methods require additional capitalcapital and and operatingoperating expenditures. expenditures.

CHANGING THE FLOW CHANGING THE FLOW MECHANISMMECHANISM

Mingaleeva in his paper “On the Mechanism of a Mingaleeva in his paper “On the Mechanism of a Helical Motion of Fluids in Regions of Sharp Path Helical Motion of Fluids in Regions of Sharp Path Bending” determined that,Bending” determined that,

“ “ The path of least resistance for liquid and The path of least resistance for liquid and gases is determined to be of a helicalgases is determined to be of a helical trajectory, and that the slope of the helix trajectory, and that the slope of the helix varies within 45-65varies within 45-65oo from the horizontal. The from the horizontal. The helical path was more favorable from an helical path was more favorable from an energy utilization viewpoint, as the power energy utilization viewpoint, as the power spent to overcome the hydraulic drag for spent to overcome the hydraulic drag for raising an air column, as compared to the raising an air column, as compared to the motion and rising of equivalent air mass at the motion and rising of equivalent air mass at the same velocities by a straight column is same velocities by a straight column is significantly lower.”significantly lower.”

FLOW MODIFYING TOOLSFLOW MODIFYING TOOLS

Technology used in the coal and Technology used in the coal and potash industries for almost a potash industries for almost a decade.decade.

In 2001 VortexFlow, LLC In 2001 VortexFlow, LLC acquired rights to use this acquired rights to use this technology in the Oil and Gas technology in the Oil and Gas Industry. Industry.

Installed over 200 surface units.Installed over 200 surface units.

Contributed to 5% - 40% Contributed to 5% - 40% increase in gas production.increase in gas production.

Consistently shifting decline Consistently shifting decline curves when compared to wells’ curves when compared to wells’ prior experience.prior experience.

FLOW LOOPFLOW LOOP1. Positive Displacement Pump1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit10. Vortex Unit

2. Gas Choke2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve11. Ball Valve

3. Variable Speed PD Pump3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve12. Check Valve

3.Wellbore3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator13. Flow Indicator

5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator13. Pressure Indicator

6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge15. Liquid Gauge

7. Y-Bend7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir16. Water Reservoir

8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke17. Wellhead Choke

9. 2” Union9. 2” Union

FLOW MODIFYING TOOLSFLOW MODIFYING TOOLS

WELLBORE FLOW WELLBORE FLOW STABILITYSTABILITY

FLOW STABILITYFLOW STABILITYLOW LIQUID / HIGH GAS

RATES

WITH VX TOOL

WITHOUT VX TOOL

FLOW VISULATIZATIONFLOW VISULATIZATIONHIGH LIQUID / LOW GAS

RATES

WITHOUT VX TOOL

WITH VX TOOL

OPERATIONAL ENVELOPEOPERATIONAL ENVELOPE

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000

Gas Flow Rate (SCFD)

Liq

uid

Flo

w R

ate

(B

PD

)

Tubing

A2

A4

D

NON LOAD-UP REGION

LOAD-UP REGION

Region 1

PRESSURE DROPPRESSURE DROP

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000


Tu

bin

g P

res

su

re D

rop

'DP

' (p

si)

Tubing

A2

A4

D

SLUG STABILITYSLUG STABILITY

WITH VX TOOL

WITHOUT VX TOOL

SLUG STABILITYSLUG STABILITY

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

0:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00

Time (min:sec)

Bo

tto

m-H

ole

Pre

ss

ure

(p

sig

) Pipe (19.27MSCFD, 20.45psig)

VX Tool (19.07MSCFD, 20.39psig)

CRITICAL VELOCITYCRITICAL VELOCITY


VVTT == Terminal gas velocity, ft/sTerminal gas velocity, ft/s

== Surface tension, dyne/cmSurface tension, dyne/cm

LL == Liquid density, lbLiquid density, lbmm/ft/ft33

GG == Gas density, lbGas density, lbmm/ft/ft33

Turner et. Al

Coleman

Li


10

100

1,000

10 100Wellhead Pressure (psia)

Ga

s F

low

Ra

te (

MS

CF

D)

NON LOAD-UP REGION

LOAD-UP REGION


10

100

1,000

10 100Wellhead Pressure (psia)

Ga

s F

low

Ra

te (

MS

CF

D)

Pipe

VX Tool

NON LOAD-UP REGION

LOAD-UP REGION


Turner’s ModelTurner’s Model Li’s ModelLi’s Model

Critical Velocity Critical Velocity FormulaFormula

Shape of Shape of DropDrop SphericalSpherical FlatFlat

Discharge Discharge Coefficient ‘CCoefficient ‘C

dd’’ ≈ ≈ 0.440.44 ≈ ≈ 1.01.0

BACKPRESSURE ANALYSISBACKPRESSURE ANALYSIS

100

1,000

0.1 1

Liquid Un-Loading (bbl/MSCF)

PW

F2 - P

WH

2 eS(p

sia

2 )

Pipe

VX Tool

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS VX tools sucessfully reduces liquid loading,VX tools sucessfully reduces liquid loading,

Consistent results at varying pressuresConsistent results at varying pressures The tool lowered critical velocityThe tool lowered critical velocity

Testing program allowed improvements in tool Testing program allowed improvements in tool design to be evaluated.design to be evaluated.

Potential use in,Potential use in, Avoiding liquid-loading in flowing wellsAvoiding liquid-loading in flowing wells Replacing marginal pump jacksReplacing marginal pump jacks Replacing plunger systemsReplacing plunger systems Improving flow in horizontal wellsImproving flow in horizontal wells Reducing power consumption of ESPsReducing power consumption of ESPs Being A slug stabilizer by reducing slug sizesBeing A slug stabilizer by reducing slug sizes Reducing gas requirements in artificial gas Reducing gas requirements in artificial gas

liftlift

FUTURE WORKFUTURE WORK

BETA VX TOOL INSTALLED

5 TOOLS IN WYOMING COAL (1,200 FT) FOR MARATHON OIL4 TOOLS IN SAN JUAN BASIN FAIRWAY COAL IN COLORADO (3,000 FT) FOR BP1 TOOL IN SAN JUAN CONVENTIONAL IN NEW MEXICO (1,200 FT) FOR BP5 TOOLS IN HUGOTON BASIN IN TEXAS (???? FT) FOR BP1 TOOL IN WYOMING DEEP GAS (12,000 FT)

MID-HOLE TOOL UNDER DEVELOPMENTPRODUCTION TOOL WILL BE READY FOR SALE LATER THIS YEAR

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Vortex Flow Corporate Offices8591 Prairie Trail Dr. Suite 500

Englewood, Co. 80112

QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?

Why does the amount of Why does the amount of liquid that can be liquid that can be

removed continuously removed continuously decrease as the gas rate decrease as the gas rate

is increased ?is increased ?

OPERATIONAL ENVELOPEOPERATIONAL ENVELOPE

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000


Liq

uid

Flo

w R

ate

(BP

D)

.

Tubing

A2

A4

D

NO N LO AD-UP REGIO N

LO AD-UP REGIO NRegion 1

PRESSURE PRESSURE COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

WELLBORE

PRESSURE

= PRESSURE OF A GAS

+HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE DUE

TO LIQUID

PRESSURE COMPONENTSPRESSURE COMPONENTS

WELLBORE

PRESSURE

= PRESSURE OF A GAS


TO LIQUID

AT LOW GAS RATES

PRESSURE COMPONENTSPRESSURE COMPONENTS

WELLBORE

PRESSURE

= PRESSURE OF A GAS


TO LIQUID

AT HIGH GAS RATES

NO-SLIP LIQUID HOLDUPNO-SLIP LIQUID HOLDUP

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0 50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000


Liq

uid

Hol

du

p

.

Tubing

A2

A4

D

NO N LO AD-UP REGIO N

LO AD-UP REGIO N

QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?

FLOW LOOPFLOW LOOP1. Positive Displacement Pump1. Positive Displacement Pump 10. Vortex Unit10. Vortex Unit

2. Gas Choke2. Gas Choke 11. Ball Valve11. Ball Valve

3. Variable Speed PD Pump3. Variable Speed PD Pump 12. Check Valve12. Check Valve

3.Wellbore3.Wellbore 13. Flow Indicator13. Flow Indicator

5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel5. Liquid/Gas Separating Vessel 13. Pressure Indicator13. Pressure Indicator

6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line6. 4” Clear PVC Return Line 15. Liquid Gauge15. Liquid Gauge

7. Y-Bend7. Y-Bend 16. Water Reservoir16. Water Reservoir

8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String8. 2” Clear PVC Tubing String 17. Wellhead Choke17. Wellhead Choke

9. 2” Union9. 2” Union

investigation of new tool to unload liquids from gas wells vortexflowllc.com cal whibbs premier...

Documents